Hello. My name is Ada, and I am originally from Finike in the Mediterranean region of Turkey, located in the southern part of the country. Before moving to England five years ago with my girlfriend, I had a successful career in the media, specifically in TV and radio. About a year ago, we welcomed our beloved cat Ruby into our lives, and she has brought us so much joy. I cat sit locally, as well as my caring for my own animals. I love to look after and care for animals, and humans! I also love nature, foraging and harvesting edible plants to use in my recipes.

I come from a large family, the youngest of five children, and I learned how to cook from my mother and her friends. Hospıtalıty is central to my family and in Turkish culture generally. My family loves to host, and share food and stories. Cooking is a passion of mine as it allows me to express my cultural background and personal identity. Food is the universal language of love, and I find the most joy in cooking for my friends and sharing my creations with them.

My English is not perfect but when I cook, I am able to share who I am and share my joy with my friends wıthout strugglıng to express myself! While Turkey is famous for its kebabs, as a vegetarian, I am eager to introduce you to the delicious world of Turkish vegetarian cuisine. Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you.

Ami is a writer, film programmer, cultural industries worker, barista and chef from Mumbai now based in London. Their work has been shown at The Feminist Library, Ugly Duck, Bangalore Queer Film Festival amongst other places. Their work revolves around identity, queerness, masculinity and collective joy.

Tauntaun is a researcher, storyteller, and community organiser with expertise in the history and philosophy of neuroscience. They’re particularly interested in neuroanatomy and “cultural containers” – the social practices and intuitions that shape behaviour. Current areas of study and practice include free-choice lifelong learning, cybernetics, improvisational performance, speculative fiction, and post-capitalism. Tauntaun is “double diaspora”, based in London after being born on Turtle Island to parents who migrated there from 한국 (“Korea”). Learn more at danbeekim.org.

Associated with:
Appalachian Institute for Creative Learning, Chapunk Podcast, Dear Neuroscience, Neuronautas, Pulse & Pickle, Terrascope

Past projects:
The First VIRS, a self-published sci-fi graphic novel - Writer, Artistic Director
Hack, Punt, Tool, an original musical - Co-writer, Choreographer
Surprising Minds, a field neuroscience experiment embedded in an interactive aquarium exhibit - Artistic and Scientific Director

Nature Lover, Chef, and Yoga Teacher. As a believer in the importance and freedom of expression through the multifaceted nature of humans, Decibel has embraced this way of life via her avenues of work. With a background in horticulture-/ permaculture-themed outdoor learning facilitation, wild food foraging, and continued interest in food and cooking, Decibel is able to funnel her fascination with edible plants into her role as a chef. In her role as a yoga teacher, Decibel explores how we use the energy we gain from nourishment to navigate life and gain a deeper connection with ourselves.

Eddie is an artist specialising in dance and movement from West Africa. Raised in London, but with Ghanaian roots, he grew up immersed in the rich and diverse culture of his motherland, mostly played out at home and during social gatherings whilst simulataneously being exposed to the multicultural offerings that make up the city of London. He is very passionate about dance as a portal to good heath and wellbeing, and spends much of his time deepening his knowledge of this whilst spreading joy and happiness through his practices.

Livvy is a recent transplant in London studying at SOAS in the postgraduate Migration and Diaspora Studies and Arabic Language program. They were raised in Turtle Island (Richmond, Virginia) and are most connected to their Scandinavian roots. Livvy is a trained chef and studied dietetics— and for the last decade has organized in community food justice spaces through teaching youth cooking classes, preparing community meals, and farming. They infuse passion into their work and are uplifted by community song circles, learning languages, foraging, and co-creating liberatory spaces.

I am a journalist, screenwriter, and director originally from Jerusalem, cooking flavors of home. For over two decades, I have contributed to the development of stories and engaged in collaborations with artists, activists, communities and writers on cross-border issues. I'm also a member of a London based documentary filmmakers collective that explores the complexities of life in one of the world’s most linguistically diverse cities.

Zohreh is a multidisciplinary artist and workshop facilitator based in the UK, originally from Iran. Working with photography, text, video, and sound, her practice explores memory, identity, and displacement -- often centring the lived experiences of migrants, refugees, and those affected by systemic marginalisation. Zohreh is passionate about using art as a tool for connection, empowerment, and social change. She has led participatory workshops that offered space for reflection and storytelling, including projects with displaced and homeless communities.